Cafe-florist-bike shop set to open on Stittsville Main

(PHOTO: Thom Johnson will run Steelwool Cycleworks, the bike shop, and Kat Kosk will run Blumenstudio, the cafe-florist.)

UPDATE (AUGUST 6): They’re not quite ready to open yet. Posted to their Twitter feed yesterday: “.we still have a bit of tweaking to do .trims details bathroom & so on .please stay tuned for stittsville”

Stittsville will get a taste of trendy Hintonburg when Blumenstudio opens its doors on Saturday.

The new location will be at 1564 Stittsville Main Street, in the cinder block building that’s also home to Capital Cabinetry. Renovations have recently been underway to replace bricks with windows at the front, creating a street-side retail space.

I dropped in on Friday night and met Kat Kosk, Thom Johnson and Paul Idone, the trio who are behind the venture. They were expecting a late night ahead as they prepared for a partial opening on Saturday.

Idone was building a bar near the front for the coffee part of the business, Kosk was moving in plants (lots of cacti and big leafy greens) and Johnson was building a web site on his laptop. Kosk’s dog was there to keep them company.

Idone owns the cabinetry business, and Johnson his business partner. Johnson will run the bike part of the business, under the name Steelwool Cycleworks. Johnson’s also an owner at Talltree Cycles on Wellington Street in Hintonburg.

Kosk owns Blumenstudio on Parkdale Avenue in Hintonburg. It’s a popular high-end floral shop and cafe that’s been open since March 2011. The location in Stittsville will follow the same concept.

Cactus!

Kosk said they had lots of neighbours dropping by today to say hello, and they’re looking forward to meeting more Stittsville residents when they open on Saturday. Johnson’s bike shop should open a couple of weeks.

It’s great to see another interesting indie shop opening up on Stittsville Main Street. Welcome to the neighbourhood!